Merivale has announced that it will be unveiling eight new venues by February. Venues joining Merivale include the iconic Newport Arms Hotel, The Paddington, J&M, Queen Victoria Hotel, Fred’s, Sussex 1854, Wine bar, King Street and Chicken Shop. Justin Hemmes, Merivale CEO said:   “This intense period of Merivale’s growth is such an exhilarating time for the group. It’s the excitement of diversity and…

Teeling Whiskey Company has begun exporting Irish single malt whiskey from its new Dublin distillery; the newest distillery to be built in the capital of Ireland in 125 years. The new distillery was opened to meet growing demand as the category faces revival for the first time since the declines of the late 19 th century. The opening will ensure that Teeling Whiskey Company has complete control over prod…

Bartenders from Australia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Greece, Israel and Japan go through to the final. The top six WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year finalists for 2015 were announced on Wednesday night, selected from among the original 54 contenders. The top six were: Jack Sotti of Australia; Viteslav Cirok of the Czech Republic; Alistair Reynolds of Great Britain; Manolis Lykiardopoulos of Greece; A…

Jim Beam & Lion – Beer, Spirits & Wine Last night, Australia’s leading beverage suppliers, distributors and retailers congregated at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to celebrate the night of nights – the Australian drinks Awards. Andrew Daddo welcomes attendees to the 2015 Australian drinks Awards Atop the plethora of high achievers who took away awards on the evening, were the much-anticipated…

Australian inventor, Streamline Beverage has developed a new piece of technology that makes beer, cider and wine on draught visible from the tap. The translucent beer-fount technology allows consumers to see the range of beverages on draught before they’ve been poured, while publicans can also check the quality of the line. “Brewers and winemakers work hard to make sure the product is perfect when it goes…

The Leukaemia Foundation’s 2015 U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year competition is well underway in Queensland and a record number of U.G.L.Y. bartenders have registered for the six week U.G.L.Y.-iness campaign, which will wrap up in QLD on 14 September 2015. Meanwhile, bartenders across the rest of Australia, including SA, NT, WA, VIC, TAS and NSW have been busy U.G.L.Y.-fying themselves and registering for t…

Last week the Wild Rover, Surry Hills, played host to the last heat of the Australian state finals for the Glenfiddich Pioneers Cocktail Competition. Decked out with a fine selection of 2015’s most awarded single malt in the world, mixed in with some of Sydney’s finest bar-tending talent, and topped with a healthy dose of good times! The term pioneer refers to an explorer or early settler of a new country…

A torrid week for one of Sydney’s latest pub renovations has seen unwanted media attention from the Daily Telegraph and the Sydney Morning Herald, criticising a newly implemented dress code banning high-vis vests. The Village Inn is the re-invigoated Durty Nelly’s, located in Sydney’s Paddington prime pub region. In an effort to re-position the venue and cater to a different occasion, publican Leeroy Pete…

After a series of state-specific heats, five bartenders have earned the right to compete in this year’s Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge national final, where each will fight for the title of Australian brand ambassador. The national finalists are: NSW – Jimmy Irvine, Baxter Inn WA – Joe Sinagra, Bobeche SA – Roman Tazhdynov, The Bibliotheca Bar VIC – Paul Ramsay, Dutchess QLD – Alex Boon, Jahh Tiger B…

Wrapping up Tequila Herradura’s ‘Mi Casa Su Casa’ world-first initiative in Australia, nine of the country’s leading tequila bars flew out to the spirit’s motherland in July. Celebrating these bars’ hard efforts over the prior 12 weeks, in what was a push to engage consumers in new and innovative ways with the versatility of the ultra-premium tequila, successful bartenders from each received an all expens…